Return to iSquad

To: Aversano Silvio (12X129); Azaria Maritza (07X151); Boyce Charles (19K218); Burwell Christine (32K162); Bynum Sandra Y (75K140); Ceparano Gina M (24Q093); Deninno Vinna (27Q202); Leopoldi Clorinda (27Q202); Downs Dan (13K266); Drago Elizabeth (10X118); Dubois Pierre (17K189); Arvelo Heriberto; Lewenstein Florian; Gallagher Kelly (27Q202); Garcia Evelyn (17K189); Gray Patricia (24Q093); Guy Christopher (16K035); Hernandez John (32K347); Marshall Gordon (18K211); Hutton John (21K281); Jenkins Christina (09X339); Job Haashim (18K211); Kievsky Galina (06M052); Korzan Edith (75K140); Barreau Marie (75K140); Lebron Domingo; Lee Michael J (10X118); Hoggard Marlin (75X017); Bell Malik (75X017); Gordon Joan (75X000); Martinez Daniel (75X017); Conquest Marva (05M195); Tineo Felix (05M195); Olavarria Edwin (07X151); Perskin Brenda L (24Q093); Quinn James (16K035); Ramirez Dawn G (13K266); Roth Arnold (21K281); Rothkin Frani (28Q217); Salvatore Frank (X017); Santana Michelle (08X192); Simms Gail (32K162); Smith Wilburn; Nelson Gloria (29Q268); Sorocco John (20K223); Telford Laurette (16K035); Vasquez Brigitte (10X118); Yung Steven (02M131); Natuzzi John (02M131)

CC: Tam Phyllis (02M131); Vargas Jeanette (08X192); Rivera Aura (05M195); Simmons-Peart Buffie (18K211); Okorafor Fidelis E (18K211); Rosenblum Stephen (21K281); Levy Jason (09X339); Santos Edward (24Q093); Lawrence Elizabeth (10X118); Piazza John (07X151); DeMartino Barbara (32K162); Burns Patrick (28Q217); Costa Joseph (19K218); Adduci Gertrude (20K223); Fernandez Sal (06M052); Moore William (27Q202); Robinson Michele (13K266); Beasley Yvette (12X129); Mineroff Martin (75K140); Cohen Robin; Grant Stewart Lissa (29Q268); Charles Jacqueline (16K035); Faustin Berthe; lnielsen

iSquad Opportunity and Application

Hello iTeach/iLearn iSquad Faculty Advisors, iTech Coaches, and Depot Managers!

We hope you are as excited as we are to be entering year 3 of the iTeach/iLearn program where your schools will have the opportunity to operate in a true one-to-one environment. As you know, crucial to the success of the iTeach/iLearn program is the support and assistance that a school-based support team can provide. As part of our commitment to iTeachiLearn (iTiL) schools, the Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) is offering each of the 22 schools an opportunity to apply to receive our support in creating and/or maintaining a school-based student support team at your site. As you know school iSquads serve as implementation and integration support teams to help students, teachers, coaches, leadership, technicians, and depot managers maximize the instructional and learning benefits of technology in the classroom.

If you are interested in applying to secure support from the OIT for your school’s iSquad, please go to http://creator.zoho.com/cmazza4/isquad/form/28/ to submit your application. Our office will reimburse schools for up to 80 hours of per session pay to an iSquad Faculty Advisor for running their school’s iSquads. Schools may also choose to renew their MOUSE Squad membership http://www.mouse.org/renewal_form.pdf, but this is not a requirement for schools to establish iSquads and the OIT will not reimburse schools for this expense. The yearly MOUSE Squad membership fee of $675 is paid by ordering the "MOUSE Squad Membership Materials and CD-ROM" from the FAMIS Catalog, using your school's NYSSL budget. You can direct any questions about MOUSE membership to help@mail.mousenetwork.org.

If accepted, schools interested in receiving OIT support must comply with the following guidelines:
  1. Designate an iSquad Faculty Advisor who is responsible for maintaining a team of students with no less then 10 members and update the names of iSquad Faculty Advisor, Depot Manager, and iTech Coach at http://oit.wikispaces.com/Non-Curricular+Roles
  2. Go to http://creator.zoho.com/cmazza4/isquad/form/28/ and complete your iSquad application no later then 10/31/07
  3. Register for the iSquad Launch and Maintenance classes at http://pd.nycoit.org
    (iSquad Faculty Advisors, iTech Coaches, and Depot Managers are eligible to attend).
    • Attend the Launch Session on Friday, November 16th or Saturday, November 17th
    • Attend the Maintaining Session Friday, February 29th or Saturday, March 1st
  4. Post the number of iSquad students and homeroom teachers at http://oit.wikispaces.com/iSquad+Stats
  5. Record attendance at each meeting
  6. Post lesson plan schedule to http://oit.wikispaces.com/iSquad+Curriculum+Rollout
  7. Contribute two lessons to the iSquad Curriculum at http://oit.wikispaces.com/iSquad+Lessons.
    Note: The first lesson must be complete prior to submission of timesheets for reimbursement to occur.

As you know iSquad students are available both during class and outside of class as determined by the individual schools to provide a valuable resource to their schools and undertake responsibilities including the following:

v During Class
· Provide on-the-spot, diagnostic support to teachers and fellow students by:
o Diagnosing and reporting technical problems;
o Troubleshooting minor repairs (i.e. – paper jams, loose plugs, configuration issues, etc.);
o Providing as-needed navigation and usage tips; and
o Working with the Depot Manager to assist with “swapping out” broken computers, keeping inventory of extra supplies (batteries, software, etc.) and managing the escalation process.
o Document problems, their status and solutions attempted
· Provide integration support and assistance for the school’s iSquad faculty advisor and/or iTech Coach to help teachers with effective strategies for using computers and other technology (software applications, web, peripherals) in the classroom.
v Extra-curricular
· Serve as integration partners or assistants to the school’s iSquad faculty advisor and/or iTech Coach to help teachers with effective strategies for using computers and other technology in the classroom.
· iSquad members will meet with their iSquad Advisors and other iSquad members on a regular basis to share best practices and receive additional training as needed.
· The school may decide that iSquad will support school-wide technology projects (e.g. networking, web-site development, inventory, software upgrades, etc.).

We are excited to be able to provide this wonderful support to your school. We hope you will be able to take advantage of this opportunity right away by completing the application http://creator.zoho.com/cmazza4/isquad/form/28/ and registering to join us next month to review how we will assist you in getting started.

Sincerely,

Christine & Lisa
PD Team – OIT
NYC DOE

Note: This email was sent to you based on your school’s updated contact information. If you no longer serve as your school’s iSquad Faculty Advisor, iTech Coach, or Depot Manager, please let us know and update your school's information at Non-Curricular Roles.